Court sentences man for violating domestic violence protection order

A court in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, sentenced a man to eight months in prison on Tuesday for violating a personal protection order, marking a significant step in China's efforts to combat domestic violence.

This case represents the first in China where a person has received a criminal penalty for non-compliance with a personal protection order, a legal instrument similar to a restraining order in Western countries.

According to the Zhuhai Xiangzhou District Intermediate People's Court, the victim divorced the man, identified by his surname Zhang, in April 2019. Despite the divorce, Zhang continued to physically and verbally abuse and threaten the woman.

In October 2023, the woman successfully obtained a personal protection order from the court, prohibiting Zhang from acts such as physical assault, threats, harassment, stalking, or contacting the woman and their daughter.

Less than a month later, Zhang violated the order by harassing the woman, assaulting her and a colleague who intervened with a baseball bat at her workplace, and making further death threats. He was arrested by police in January.

The court emphasized the severity of Zhang's actions, stating that his repeated violations and disregard for the law "necessitated severe punishment". The ruling underscores the importance of enforcing personal protection orders with "sharp teeth" to effectively address domestic violence.

In 2023, Chinese courts issued a total of 5,695 personal protection orders, reflecting a 41.5 percent increase compared to the previous year.